Visas: European Union Students

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Blackstone

Monday 4th November 2019 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I hope that the British Government would encourage British students who decided to study in the EU or elsewhere to continue. I do not think that there is going to be any impediment to that.

[Baroness Blackstone (Ind Lab)]

Given that many EU students will no longer be eligible for fee loans and therefore will not be able to study here in the medium term, do the Government intend to restore Chevening scholarships for MA students? How much money will be put behind this and how many students are likely to benefit?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

The noble Baroness has asked me a very niche question to which I do not know the answer. I have never heard of a Chevening scholarship.

Overseas Students: TOEIC Tests

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Blackstone

Tuesday 30th April 2019 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I am grateful to the noble Lord for making that point, because we need to start from where we are now. The system in place was a very old one and, as he said, the coalition Government did much to close down those dodgy colleges, as he called them. The same NAO found that well over 97% of students are compliant with their visas, which is very good news. We would not want to conflate our welcome for those coming to this country to study with what was a very dodgy process—fraudulent, in fact. I welcome what the noble Lord said, and I would not want to conflate what happened then with a very good news story now: a 28% increase in the number of international students since 2010 and a 10% increase in only the past 12 months.

[Baroness Blackstone (Ind Lab)]

My Lords, can the Minister reassure the House that, in those cases where after further investigation it is discovered that individual students have not cheated nor committed any kind of fraud, they are properly compensated for the fees that they paid, the loss of their courses and a loss of income in employment?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I thank the noble Baroness for making that point. Of course, it will be in the light of the NAO report and the additional advice of the Home Secretary that next steps will be able to be articulated to both Houses.